Volume 4 Chapter 2 (1/2)

t.i.tle: Koushounin series 04

Koushounin wa Hamerareru [交渉人は嵌められる]

Chapter: 2

Page: 054 – 080

Author: Eda Yuuri [榎田 尤利]

Ill.u.s.trator: Nara Chiharu [奈良 千春]

Publisher: Taiyō Tos...o...b..>

Year of Release: 2010

Disclaimer:

Eda Yuuri is the original author of this work, and this is a fan translation. Feel free to re-post this elsewhere if you like but please credit this site. I did buy the original copy of this book, along with the rest of the series, so it'll be great if you can support her by buying her books.

By the way, this work contains BL, or h.o.m.o-eroticism.

Note:

As I have no formal training in translation theory nor am I an expert in j.a.panese (nor English, for the matter), I cannot guarantee the quality of this translation work, but I promise I did my best.

I have been a big fan of the Koushounin series by Eda Yuuri ever since I got my hands on the BLCDs for the first and second instalments of the series, and have been waiting patiently for the BLCDs for the third instalment onward… to no avail. It has been 8 years since the sensei published Koushounin wa Furikaeru, and I am beginning to accept that there might be no BLCD after all.

Nevertheless, the fujos.h.i.+ doesn't give up. The following is my attempt at the English translation of the rest of the series.

Chapter 2

I received a call from s.h.i.+zu Kyousuke, the day after he met me at my office.

He told me that he had decided to stop scamming people and live an honest life. According to him, he was able to make up his mind because he wasn't suited to swindling work in the first place thus his string of failures, and even a brat like Tomonori made fun of him about it. However, Sayuri-san's rice cake soup was the finis.h.i.+ng blow.

—if I did a normal, decent job, it might get really tiring at times but at least I could take a break during the New Year, and eat rice cake soup with someone else… I was beginning to think that a life like that doesn't sound too bad. I mean, yesterday's soup got me wondering how many years it had been since I had rice cake soup during the New Year. Back then my Grandpa used to make some for me, but his rice cake was all melty and gooey because that was how I liked it, so…

And s.h.i.+zu had said, half to himself, that he wanted a family of his own, too. He had lost his parents at a tender young age and was brought up by his great-grandfather, but I heard that that great-grandfather had already pa.s.sed on, too.

—as long I continued being a marriage swindler, I wouldn't be able to get myself a girlfriend, to say nothing of getting married and building a family. That is why, Mebuki-san, please take care of the stalker in my request for me.

I readily agreed, and asked him for more information before carrying out my own investigation on Remi-san. After three days, this is what I found out: the woman that had been following s.h.i.+zu around was called Azuru Remi, and she was thirty years old. She was half j.a.panese; her mother was a Filipina, and she cut a voluptuous figure. I heard that she was a little forceful in her advances, and inexperienced men would be taken in by her.

”And her job is… a hostess at a dating club. Have you heard of this club called 'Alpha Omega'?” I asked Kiyo, which was familiar with the underworld. With his usual lack of expression he replied: ”Yea, I have.”

It was almost 7 PM, and Sayuri-san had already gone home for the day.

”It's an exclusive club that you can join by-invitation only. They were saying that the deposit you have to pay to join the club is 200,000 yen, or something like that.”

”Two hundred thousand…? Huh. A world like that really does exist, I guess.”

Wait a minute, I thought to myself. A dating club is a business that dispatches girls upon request to perform s.e.xual acts, so they are most definitely illegal. These businesses do not have physical shopfronts thus it is hard to uncover such operations. Furthermore, businesses of this nature are most likely run by gangster organisations.

”Oh, I don't like the sound of that. It sounds like the yakuza is involved in this… Kiyo, could you ask around for me and find out which k.u.mi is managing 'Alpha Omega'?”

”Nn.”

”Only to the extent that it doesn't get dangerous for you, that is.”

I got it, said Kiyo as he flashed me an OK sign and wiggled his fingers. It was the finger sign for 'three' that Sayuri-san had taught him. He seemed to have enjoyed the sign language lesson. At that time, Tomonori was also a.s.signing meaning to the numbers; lifting an index finger could be 'one', but could also mean 'start', and lifting all five could mean 'five', but also 'wait', and they were playing with the hand signs amongst themselves. Before I knew it, the gigantic one in my office and the tiny one seemed to have grown close enough to quarrel with each other… I did use the word quarrel, but it would appear that the only one picking the fights was Tomonori.

The door chime rang, the same time a voice called out: ”I have a small package for you.”

Kiyo answered the door. He took the package from the deliveryman, whose face I had begun to remember, and asked him: ”Who is it from?”

”From a… Tora-san.”

”Harh?”

Kiyo brought the package over to me. It was B5 size padded envelope from someone claiming to be Kuruma Torajirou. Even his address was indicated as Katsus.h.i.+ka, s.h.i.+bamata. Well… even though I am a Tora-san fan, and I have the DVDs of every 'Otoko wa Tsurai yo' film, I couldn't possibly have had personal dealings with Tora-san, a fictional character… furthermore, Atsumi Kiyos.h.i.+, who played his character on the films, had already pa.s.sed on.

”… Did he send me kusa dango1 from heaven, or something?”

Upon opening the envelope, I found a white ball-point pen, swathed in bubble wrap.

”A ball-point pen?” I said, with my head was tilted in puzzlement, and Kiyo said to me: ”Let me see it,” with his hand outstretched. When I handed it to him, he gave the middle of the pen a twist, and the pen came apart into two halves. I looked inside the pen and inadvertently made a sound of surprise.

It was a USB memory drive; a small device that could exchange information with a computer.

”Huh… there are things like that nowadays.”

”Un. They are being marketed as convenience goods but this one is probably…”

A USB drive that is disguised as a pen, said Kiyo. In other words, the pen was simply a cover to keep the USB drive hidden.

”We should probably plug it in and see what's inside.”

My computer could read the drive, but I was unable to open the encrypted file in it. On the window that popped up requesting for the pa.s.sword were the numbers '11 15 28 48'. The number '48' gave me pause. There was a total of 49 'Otoko wa Tsurai yo' films, and 48 is one short of 49… wait. Does the number 48 refer to the 48th 'Otoko wa Tsurai' film?

”Ah. It's Asaoka Ruriko.”

Kiyo gave me blank look. He hasn't watched the films, so it was natural that he did not know. In every Tora-san film, there would be a 'Madonna' role which is played by a different actress in each film, but few actresses would ever reprise their roles. And in the 11th, 15th, 25th, and 48th Tora-san film, the 'Madonna' role was fulfilled by the same actress; Asaoka Ruriko. Her character in the films was called Lily.

I typed 'lily' in the pa.s.sword field in the window, and the file opened to reveal a rather lengthy text doc.u.ment. Upon closer inspection I realised it was an email log, and after reading the email exchanges for one to two minutes, my breath hitched in my throat. In my haste to close the window, I found myself clicking on the 'x' b.u.t.ton more times than it was necessary. I could scarcely believe my eyes. My heart pounded in my chest, and I was at a loss for words.

Why…? Why did something like that arrive at my door, after all this time? I had probably gone white, for Kiyo whispered to me: ”You alright?”

In all honesty, I was not alright. I was still frozen, my eyes still fixed on the familiar desktop monitor screen. It was a while before I could let out the breath I had been holding in.

”Sorry… please excuse me for a bit.”

With that, I carried my laptop, which was still switched on, into my room at the back of the office. This was something I most definitely do not want to read in front of anyone else. Sitting on my bed, I clumsily opened the file once more, with shaky fingers. I didn't want to continue reading, but I had to… I had an obligation to fulfil, after all.

Yes, I had to finish reading it all.

—Mebuki.

I could almost hear the ghost of his voice, right beside my ear, a voice that would never call out to me again. Steeling my resolve, I read the doc.u.ment till the end. It took no longer than 20 minutes, and I could remember everything I read. After that, I sat there and pondered it all. It was evident as to what this file was, and the sender must have known, too. However, why did he send something like this to me? I racked my brains, to no avail.

A knock on the door later and Kiyo said: ”… Mebuki-san, it's time,” on the other side of the door. I suddenly recalled that I had an appointment at 9 PM, and that I only had thirty minutes till then. Immediately, I returned to the office, as 9 PM was my appointment with Azuru-san.

”Thanks for the reminder, Kiyo, I was running late.” This meeting was hard to set up, so I shouldn't show up late and wound the feelings of the lady.

While preparing my things to go out, I thought about where to hide the USB, as it was something I absolutely cannot misplace. Should I carry it with me when I go outside? No, I wouldn't know what kind of trouble I'll get myself into in the course of my work, so it'll probably be safer to keep it in the office. Heading over to the pantry, I slid opening the door on the shelf and took out a tea canister and stuffed the pen in it after removing the lid.

”… That.”

”Un. It's kinda important.”

”Nn,” answered Kiyo with a nod, and he had nothing else to add.

On an unrelated note, I also had a cabinet that I could keep locked, but there was nothing in it save for a couple tens of thousands of yen in cash and doc.u.ments that didn't really matter. It was simply bait for a robber who might come in when no one was in, looking for something steal.

Kiyo saw me out, and I left the office and set out for s.h.i.+buya, where my appointment was.

s.h.i.+buya was crowded with youngsters. I hurried through the crowd as I made my way to a café in Dogenzaka, flipping up the collar of my coat against the chilly night wind. In my hurry to leave the office I had left my m.u.f.fler scarf behind. The night wind howled in my ears, jeering at me as I tried to take my mind off the USB drive by focusing on the task at hand.

I managed to arrive at the place we agreed to rendezvous five minutes early, but she arrived ten minutes late. s.h.i.+zu had shown me her photographs, and since she was a woman of striking good looks that stood out from the crowd, it wasn't at all difficult to spot her. When she entered the café, I stood up and bowed to her.

”Pleased to meet you. It was good of you to agree to meet me today.”

She gave me a cursory glance, and without a word, took her seat. Since she did not remove her designer coat, it was a sign that she wasn't going to stay for very long. To a waitress, all she said was a curt ”Perrier…” for water, in a voice was husky and flirtatious. Yet she sounded a little tired, and her eyes were clouded with a certain listlessness, even if she did look young for thirty years of age.

I introduced myself and handed her my business card, but she did not utter a word. She didn't even smile at me; instead, she looked like she was sizing me up. It didn't exactly feel very pleasant, but I was used to such appraising looks. I kept my tone affable to the extent that she wouldn't think too lowly of me, as I explained to her that I was representing s.h.i.+zu… or s.h.i.+mizu, which she knew him by, and that I was speaking in his stead.

”Please allow me to speak plainly. s.h.i.+mizu-san wishes to end his relations.h.i.+p with you.”

When there are disputes regarding matters of the heart, I would endeavour to maintain a business-like tone throughout. Since both parties in such a conflict would be heavily bound in chains of emotion, the mediator would have to remain level-headed at all times.

”I won't break it off,” said Remi in a whisper, without any emotion flickering across her face. Truth was, her lack of expression was far more intimidating than a violent outburst of emotion, but I kept my countenance calm.

”Azuru-san. A relations.h.i.+p is established when both parties have feelings for each other. s.h.i.+mizu-san no longer have such feelings for you. Many times he has sought to break up with you. Yet you have ignored his pleas and continued to call and send texts to him, haven't you?”

”What is wrong with sending texts to a person you like?” Her lips had been coloured to seem paler than they were, as in vogue nowadays.

”The number of and frequency of the texts you send to him exceed what will be considered acceptable. I also heard that you have lain in wait for s.h.i.+mizu-san in front of his apartment, and when he returned home, you shouted at him things like ”What a rotten person you are”. According to the law, what you are doing would be called illegal hara.s.sment.”

”But I bought him many things. Expensive watches, clothes…”

”s.h.i.+mizu-san said that he would return everything.”

She blinked slowly as she said: ”That is not the point here. What is he going to do with the feelings I put into those gifts?”

”I am very sorry to say this, but,” I said dispa.s.sionately, ”he cannot return those feelings. That is solely your problem, and should not have anything to do with s.h.i.+mizu-san. There is nothing he can do anyway… your love is simply one that is unrequited.”

c.r.a.p, the last part might have been unnecessary, I thought to myself as I looked at the furrow that had appeared in her brow, but I could no longer take my words back, so I continued:

”s.h.i.+mizu-san has feeling troubled by this matter, and has taken some psychological damage from your actions. This has begun to show up as migraines and insomnia, both of which are physical symptoms of stress. I must implore you to stop your hara.s.sment of him at once.”

”… Huh. What would you do if I refused?”

”Should you continue to do so, I am afraid that he will consider reporting you.”

”Report me?” Remi laughed for the first time since we met.

”Please, go ahead and make that report.” Her glossy lips were curled in mirth, and a chilly sense of foreboding crawled up my back.

”Azuru-san, please think through it again. I am sure you wouldn't like the police to…”

”Don't make me laugh. A swindler, reporting me to the police?” she said, with a sardonic smile.

I fell speechless. She knew. She knew exactly what s.h.i.+zu was.

”I don't care if you are negotiator or a private investigator, but… you ran a background check on me, didn't you, Mebuki-san?”

She tapped a long square-shaped nail on the business card I gave her, which was on the table.

”Don't you dare think you can screw with me simply because I am a woman. I am someone who makes a living off riding atop men, and hordes of them, too… thus there is no way I would be fooled by a third-rate swindler like him. He kept hinting at me that he was in debt and that he had sick parents, plus his acting was really lousy… but it was so interesting, going out with a man like that.”

She chuckled, and I noticed that she had left deep impressions on my card with her nails.

”Aren't you being really the jerk here?” Remi was still laughing. ”He tried so hard to deceive me and I was happily playing along with him, so why did you have to spoil our game?”

Naturally, I was unsettled by this unexpected turn of events, but I wasn't stupid enough to let it show on my face. Keeping my breathing in check, I laughed along with her as I said: ”I must hand it to you. I probably should admit that I have underestimated you, Azuru-san. However, since you now know everything, wouldn't you have no reason left to continue your relations.h.i.+p with him?”

”That is something for me to decide.”

”Don't you think it is a waste of your time to continue this false relations.h.i.+p with a marriage swindler? It wouldn't amount to anything.”

”I don't care if it doesn't.” She inclined her head to one side and her long, l.u.s.trous hair fell on her shoulders. ”I only want to enjoy myself for now… so don't get in my way.”

”You really believe in living in the moment, don't you?”

Well now, what next? If I give up here, then it'll be my turn to be called a third-rate negotiator. I decided to acknowledge the vulnerability of my position. Slumping my shoulders, I said: ”Well, this is awkward,” with a sigh. ”I shall have him prepare a sum of money for the settlement, then.”

Sometimes, one had to make a compromise. Besides, it was s.h.i.+zu's fault for trying to swindle this woman in the first place. Even if this was a costly mistake, I'm sure it will serve as a valuable lesson for him.

”My apologies, but I don't need his money.”

”Anyone who looked at you would know that, but I know no other way of showing you how sincere or sorry he is.”

”Hey. Are you soft in the head? Haven't I already told you that I went out with him while knowing he was a marriage swindler? I don't need his sincerity. I only wish to be romanced… I don't feel alive, if I wasn't in love.”  She fluttered her eyelashes, which have been heavily mascara-ed.

The word 'love addict' floated to my head, but I hesitated to label her as one. Was she really a love addict? Or was she making things difficult for me to hide the fact that she been fis.h.i.+ng for the monetary settlement all along? The former was far more problematic.

”Oh, am I in trouble,” she said, in a voice that was almost… tender. ”I love putting men in a spot… the look on Kyouichi-kun's face when he got desperate was priceless. He looked like a dull-witted dog being chastised, and it was adorable. But Mebuki-san may do fine, too… when I see intelligent, handsome types like you in distress, I feel like pus.h.i.+ng them a little closer to the edge.”

”How frightening.” I replied with a laugh, but that was how I truly felt. She was indeed frightening, and a formidable opponent. It was odd of me to think of her this way, but then again, I thought, almost defiantly, what of it? There was a certain stubbornness that was characteristic of those who had turned defiant, so that thought prevailed. What a terrible swindler s.h.i.+zu was. He wasn't even able to get the first step right: picking a suitable person to be his victim.

”Go on a date with me.”

”I'm sorry?”

”If Mebuki-san would agree to go on a date with me right now, I'll consider leaving Kyouichi-kun alone.”

”I don't think it'll be very fun to go on a date with someone like me.”

”We won't know until we try, will we?” she said rather confidently, as she probably knew that I had run out of options. Standing up with a small smile, she said: ”Shall we go now?”

And that was how I ended up going on a date with a beautiful woman, but I wasn't in a position to feel happy about it.

I thought about how I could talk this deceitful woman around, and concluded that it would be better for me to set up a new meeting instead of making a mess of things in my hurry to wrap this case up. But if I were to insist on going home now, Remi will most definitely take offense, and a second meeting may not be possible. The best course of action right now was to accompany her to dinner and perhaps some drinks, before asking to meet her again to discuss s.h.i.+zu's case.

Take me somewhere that has good food, instructed Remi.

I pondered my options. Since she was a call girl from an exclusive dating club, she should probably be used to eating at expensive restaurants. In fact, she might have gotten tired of eating at such places. What then, should I do?

”… I have a very special place in mind.”

”Bring me there.”

”Truth is, it is a place I wouldn't want too many people to know about.”

”I'm getting excited hearing you talk like that.”

”And, it gets rather cold there.”

I don't mind, answered Remi, so we got into a taxi that was headed downtown. We alighted the taxi at the side of the road, somewhere in a part of town that was rather noisy yet had a quaint charm of its own.

”We've reached. Great… it isn't very busy today.”

”Here… as in…”

Remi looked slightly astonished, but I beckoned her over with a wave of my hand. ”Good evening,” I greeted the owner. He was an old man with a knit cap on his bald head, whom I could now recognise. ”Good to see you again,” was his amicable reply.

I had brought Remi to a street-side oden stall.